The final week of the 2016 General Assembly was marked by the passage of a $21 billion spending plan for the two-year period beginning July 1, and it is being hailed as the most conservative budget the commonwealth has seen in a generation.
Governor Matt Bevin set the parameters for the state budget debate when he announced his proposed budget in January. He proposed major funding increases to Kentucky’s struggling pension systems and asked other areas of state government to participate in funding reductions.

A quarter-century ago, Kentucky had nowhere to go but up when it came to the education levels of adults 25 and older.
Only two-thirds had graduated from high school, and less than a sixth had earned a bachelor’s degree. No state had a lower combined percentage.

Editor’s note: The following guest column was written in response to an editorial published in the April 20 edition of The Lebanon Enterprise entitled, “Don’t sign the petition.” The following is being published exactly how it was submitted to the Enterprise. It should be noted that their claims about two board members’ having “concerns” are unsubstantiated.

A recent study by the Chronicle of Education found that many employers value work experience, particularly internships and employment during school, in addition to grade-point average and college major.
While it’s still important for students to pursue a strong academic foundation and have a focused career path, we have increasingly encouraged our students to supplement their education with real work experience.

Other than constitutional amendments, which go before the voters, every bill the General Assembly passes has to clear one final hurdle before becoming law: The governor’s pen.
The governor has the authority to sign or reject bills, or to let them become law without a signature. He or she can only approve or veto bills in their entirety – except in budgetary matters, which can be line-item vetoed without affecting the rest.

Across the country, a lack of skilled workers is challenging employers both large and small in a number of industries.
We face the same workforce concerns in Kentucky and the Lincoln Trail region. That’s one reason why the Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail and the Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board work vigorously to support job seekers and connect them with area employers.

Legislative sessions tend to be remembered for just a handful of new laws, and this year’s, which ended April 15, is no different.
The budget was understandably the most prominent, with its chief highlight being the significant amount of new money the General Assembly put toward the unfunded liabilities of our public retirement systems.

It was June 9, 2011. This was the night that my 20-year-old nephew would receive his new lungs. I was there at the Tampa Hospital to be beside my brother, Dave, while he waited for his son, Davey, to receive his life-saving new lungs.